Cigarette container for household use



Jan. 13, 1948. G. R. PENN GIGARETTE CONTAINER FOR HOUSEHQLD USE Filed Dec.'l2, 1946 INVENTOH I I I ATTORNEYS.

Patented 'Jan. 13, 1948 CIGARETTE CONTAINER FOR HOUSE- HOLD USE George R. Penn, Danville, in. Application December 12, 1946, Serial No. 715,787

2 Claims.

This invention mates to cigarette containers designed for hou seh'ol'duse, the primary Object of the invention being to improve generally the construction as set forth my copending application filed June 24, 1946, Serial Number 678,936. An important object of the invention is to provide a container including a pivoted tray so arranged with respect to the discharge opening of the container, that the discharge opening will be normally closed by the tray to insure against the cigarettes contained therein drying out.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a cigarette container so constructed that the pivoted tray thereof will operate to deliver a cigarette to the trough thereof, with each operation of the tray by the operator.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a shelf extending inwardly from the front wall of the container to support the weight of the cigarettes which are not resting on the tray, providing a two-way feed, thereby preventing the cigarettes held on the tray, from jamming at the discharge opening of the container, to defeat the purpose of the invention.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for supporting the movable tray, in such a way that it may be readily removed to facilitate the cleaning of the container.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cigarette container, constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view therethrough.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the container, which is box-like in formation, comprises a base 5, side walls 6, a rear wall 7 and a front Wall 8, the front wall being provided with an opening extending throughout the entire width thereof, at the base 5, providing the discharge opening 9 of the container.

Pivotally supported within the container, is the cigarette tray I0, which has wide forwardly extended portions II, formed on opposite side edges thereof, adjacent to the inner end of the tray, the members I I being provided with notches I2 that extend inwardly from the lower forward 2 curved edges of the members II, the notches being designed to accommodate the :pins '63 on which the tray I0 swings.

As clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, the tray is of a length to extend an appreciable distance beyond a vertical line drawn through the pivot pins I3, to the end that normally the tray is in the position as shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, with its upper surface contacting the lower edge of the front wall 8, closing the container to exclude air and maintain the cigarettes in position.

The tray is formed with a trough I4, which is so disposed that it is normally in a position exteriorly of the container, but when the tray is moved to remove a cigarette from the container, the trough will lie within the confines of the container to permit a cigarette to move thereinto.

The forward end of the tray Ill provides a finger piece I5 to be engaged by the fingers of the operator when the tray is moved downwardly, resulting in a cigarette rolling into the trough [4. The weight of the tray is such that when pressure is relieved at the finger piece I5, the tray will swing upwardly, presenting a cigarette to be removed by the operator.

In order that the cigarette will be maintained in a true row, along the trough, a partition I6 is provided, the partition being inclined slightly downwardly and of a length to miss the front edges of the members I I. This partition It acts as a support for the cigarettes which are not in direct contact with the tray It, so that the cigarettes will not collect along the front wall of the container to wedge and prevent the true operation of the tray to deliver a single cigarette with each operation thereof. Then, too, the partition directs the volume of the cigarettes to the upper end of the tray to overbalance the tray and cause the front portion thereof to swing upwardly into contact with the lower front edge of the front wall 8.

In order that upward movement of the rear end of the tray ID will be restricted, a stop in the form of a lug I! is provided on the rear wall adjacent to the upper edge of the rear wall, the stop being disposed in the path of upward travel of the inner end of the tray I0, when it is operating to release a cigarette.

In the operation of the container, a person upon removing a cigarette from the container, presses the finger piece I5 downwardly, with the result that the cigarette which is resting against the front wall 8, will roll into the trough I4. As pressure on the finger piece I5 is relieved, the

3 tray Ill will automatically move to the position shown in full lines in Figure 2 of the drawing, closing the container, and presenting a cigarette where it may be readily and easily removed.

The cover for the container is indicated by the reference character I8 and may be readily and easily removed t facilitate the filling of the container, or for cleaning purposes.

It might be further stated that it has been contemplated to construct the container of suitable material of a plastic nature, the color and design of the box being governed by personal requirements.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In a cigarette container, a body portion having a discharge opening, a tray including wide forwardly extended members formed integral therewith at the inner end of the tray, said members having notches extending inwardly from the lower edges thereof, pivot pins extending inwardly from the side walls of the container and adapted to move into the notches pivotally supporting the tray within the container, the forward end of the tray extending through the discharge opening, and said tray adapted to support cigarettes for movement by gravity through the discharge opening.

2. In a cigarette container, 9, body portion having a discharge opening disposed at the lower edge of the front wall thereof, a tray mounted within the body portion, pivot members extending forwardly from the inner end of the tray, means for supporting the pivot members to the side walls of the body portion, whereby the forward end of the tray is normally urged upwardly, said tray having a trough therein, said trough adapted to receive cigarettes which move by gravity from the tray, when the tray is pivoted downwardly, and means within the container for delivering cigarettes to the upper end of the tray.

GEORGE E. PENN.

REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,008,429 Osmer Nov. 14, 1911 1,229,982 Leonard June 12, 1917 1,703,710 Cove Feb. 26, 1929 2,342,748 Mayer Feb. 29, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 132,430 England 1919 794,911 France 1935 

